The central government has asked the Nawanshahr administration to send a detailed report on workers under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA). The administration has been asked to provide details of their job cards, bank accounts, voter ID cards and most
importantly the UID cards (aadhar) by February 15.

After the communiqué from the central government, officials have engaged in preparations including ensuring the enrolment of MNREGA workers for UID cards and opening their bank accounts.

Sources in the administration said that there are 29,037 NREGA workers in the district, of which 2,653 have worked for various types of development works, cleaning of drains, ponds and others.

Officials claim that UID cards of around 8,765 workers have been made at present and enrolment for other workers is on at a fast clip. In Nawanshahr, a MNREGA worker gets Rs. 166 a day from the administration.

The administration has organised a training session for the staff necessary to enrol more workers. Staff from Gurdaspur and Fatehgarh Sahib districts have also been asked to report for training purposes in Nawanshahr.

Speaking with HT, additional deputy commissioner Amarjeet Pal said, "This is a revolutionary project and will bring transparency into the working of department once the payment for MNREGA wrokers is transferred directly into their account."

He added that the administration had received complaints from some MNREGA workers of delay in payment or being paid less than the norm, but the new system will end these complaints.

MNREGA work manager Joga Singh told HT that after sending a report on February 15, the direct payment system was likely to be implemented from March 2013.